September 16, 2016
Province Advises Search and Rescue Training Exercise Occurring This Weekend in Brandon
Manitoba search and rescue volunteers have gathered in Brandon for a weekend of training and education designed to make sure team members keep their skills sharp for the next time they are called on, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen, minister responsible for the Office of the Fire Commissioner, announced today.
“It takes a lot of time and energy to train and prepare but we know that when they’re called on, every minute counts,” Cullen said. “From the professionals like emergency personnel and our own staff from the Office of the Fire Commissioner to civilian volunteers, I commend these dedicated individuals who are always ready and willing to help their community.”
On Sept. 17 and 18, members of the Manitoba search and rescue community, including Search and Rescue Manitoba (SARMAN) and the Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) teams, will gather in Brandon to learn how to improve their skills with classes and presentations on topics such as search management, evidence handling, wilderness survival and lost-person behaviour.
Training exercises are critical to ensuring teams are ready to respond as quickly as possible to a real emergency. Participants learn how to look for clues and preserve important evidence or signs that could point to where a missing person might be found.
There are about 450 SARMAN volunteers in Manitoba. To learn more about the SARMAN volunteer association or how to get involved in search and rescue in Manitoba, visit www.searchandrescuevolunteer.ca/.
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